News Releases

Fresno Regional Foundation Grants $360,000 To Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Organizational Capacity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 18, 2011

Media Contacts:  

Dan DeSantis, Chief Executive Officer; [email protected]

Sandra Flores, Sr. Program Officer; [email protected]; 559-226-5600

Fresno Regional Foundation Grants 

$360,000 To Teen Pregnancy Prevention 

and Organizational Capacity Building

Fresno, CA – Ten community benefit organizations are being recognized with a grant award at 4 p.m. this Thursday at the Blue Sky Wellness Center in Fresno. The Board of Directors at the Fresno Regional Foundation (FRF) has approved 13 grants of almost $360,000 in support of teen pregnancy prevention programs and capacity building for organizations in the San Joaquin Valley. 

Three organizations will receive $240,000 for teen pregnancy prevention: Fresno Barrios Unidos, Nuevo Comienzo, and Focus Forward.

“Considering the Central Valley has several counties with the highest teen pregnancy rates in the state, the need for this work is great,” said FRF Chief Executive Officer Dan DeSantis. “By focusing on reproductive health education, access to services and leadership development, these programs will lead to greater opportunities for Valley teens to pursue successful, fulfilling lives which they all deserve.”

Also, ten organizations will receive almost $120,000 in capacity building grants: Boys and Girls Club of Fresno County, Focus Forward, Fresno Barrios Unidos, HandsOn Central California, Hmong National Development, Mountain Crisis Services, Nonprofit Finance Fund, Nuevo Comienzo, Resources for Independence Central Valley, and The Innocent Justice Foundation.

Fresno Regional Foundation’s Human Services grants are intended to enhance each organization’s board governance, leadership development, or fiscal management. 

“The Fresno Regional Foundation understands that in order for community benefit organizations to provide quality services, they need support to develop top-level expertise and strong internal management,” DeSantis said. “These grants will help take effective organizations to the next level in terms of professionalism and sophistication.” 

Funding for this grant cycle came from a number of different sources managed by FRF: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Fresno Regional Foundation’s Endowment Fund, the Board’s Fund for the Common Good, an anonymous donor, and the Bee Endowment Fund made possible through the generosity of James McClatchy. 

The Fresno Regional Foundation and the leaders of the organizations will be available for interviews before and after the presentation. 

The grants reception will be part of Leadership Fresno’s daylong seminar, with 30 professionals enrolled in this year’s program. For more than 25 years, Leadership Fresno has informed, trained and convened community leaders to improve the city.